City Council setting up procedures for public meetings online

The Richmond City Council is moving to set up processes and procedures for holding online public meetings, including ways to gain resident comments on legislation, it was announced Tuesday.

The nine-member governing body issued a statement after canceling Monday night’s scheduled in-person meeting following the announcement that a Richmond Police officer tested positive for COVID-19 and another who had been in contact with the officer had isolated themselves as a precaution.

The council meeting was considered critical to extending the March 31 deadline for elderly and disabled people to file for property tax relief and approving Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s decision to provide $2.1 million to pay for temporary shelter for the homeless at area hotels and motels.

Mayor Stoney also had hoped to introduce legislation that would allow businesses to avoid penalties and interest for late filing of the monthly payments of various city taxes on businesses.

“While critical Richmond government services continue to be delivered, nothing about the current event is business as usual and some services will understandably be affected by efforts to help protect our communities,” the statement from the council reads.

“As we advance through this new normal together with changes in our daily lives and routines, thank you for your patience and understanding as Richmond endeavors to persevere.”